8
“What do you mean I have the day off? I’m scheduled all week,” Brooke said.
“Mr. Henderson asked me to tell you to take the next few days off with pay. There was no explanation, not that he has to give one. He does own the resort, you know,” Janet stated.
“Janet, I don’t understand why.” She hadn’t asked for any time off. Brooke also didn’t want special treatment. Everyone here worked hard.
“Maybe the question is why you don’t want to take it. Mr. Lawson is only going to be here a few more days. I’d think you might want to spend some time with him.”
“Is that what this is all about?” Damn it, Gareth. Did you do this? Not that it wasn’t a really nice gesture, but she didn’t want anyone manipulating her life. Not even if it was something she wanted.
“I really don’t know what made him give you the time off. It’s not my place to ask either. If you don’t want to take it, I suggest you take it up with Mr. Henderson. Otherwise, consider yourself on vacation for a few days and enjoy. God knows I would,” Janet sighed.
Brooke knew she was being foolish arguing over something like this. “Okay, Janet. I guess I’m on vacation for the next few days whether I like it or not. But if something changes, I’ll probably be hanging by the pool or at the beach. I have to finish Alex’s book.”
“You’re still reading it?”
“I’ve been busy,” Brooke said.
“I don’t care how much time you give me, that book is too . . .”
“I know, real. But I feel horrible not finishing it.”
“Not as bad as you’re going to feel without any sleep for the next few days,” Janet teased. “There has to be something better to do than torture yourself.”
That was horrible, but so true. “I’m sure I’ll find something to do. I’ll see you around.”
“I hope not,” Janet warned before she ended the call.
There wasn’t much she could do with only a few days. It wasn’t like she was going to fly back home for a visit. Most of the time would be spent on a plane. She’d rather be working than doing that. Besides, she’d be seeing her parents again in two months. A surprise visit actually would make them worry more than make them happy.
The one thing she knew she could do right now was strip out of her uniform and get comfortable. The thought of putting on her pajamas again and staying in bed all day was definitely appealing. This past week had been a rollercoaster. Either she was out late with Gareth or in her room unable to sleep because she was thinking of him. A couple days off might be exactly what she needed to rejuvenate.
That and a hot cup of tea.
There was no way she was calling down for room service, and if she showed up in the dining room now, it’d feel too weird. So how exactly was she supposed to enjoy this time off? Trapped in my room and hungry. This is great.
Brooke knew Alex meant well by giving her time off. But she liked to be active. Sitting in a room was boring. So she made up her mind. All those fun activities she’d been trying to get Gareth to do . . . she was going to do them. From scuba diving to fishing to parasailing. She might not be rested when she returned to work, but damn it, she was going to have some fun.
She quickly changed out of the uniform and into her shorts, T-shirt, and sandals. Then she rummaged through her suitcase to find her sunglasses and large wide-brimmed white hat. She peeked in the mirror and laughed. If she put these on, she’d look like she was auditioning for a role in an old classic movie. At least it was practical.
It was early, but the sun was already up. Most people would still be in bed or enjoying the indoor facilities. She didn’t bother bringing a beach blanket because she just wanted to walk the shoreline and enjoy the waves breaking on her feet. An early morning dip was out of the question. She considered herself an average swimmer, but never would go out alone or without a lifeguard keeping an eye. Tabiq was known for having some strong rip currents. Brooke wasn’t planning on starting or ending her vacation dead.
Sure enough, when she made it to the beach, it was deserted. Someone had left a towel lying there, but that wasn’t uncommon since they belonged to the resort. The cleaning crew would be around soon and retrieve it. She was on vacation and going to try really hard not to work. As she began to walk by it, she couldn’t resist. Damn it. She bent down, picked it up, and walked over to dispense it in the dirty linen bucket back by the gate.
That was it. No more. She wasn’t going to clean the entire beach. Focusing, she made a beeline for the shore. Brooke slipped off her sandals and let the ocean run over her feet. It felt so much warmer in the cool morning air. It actually was never cold in Tabiq, but the mornings were what she’d consider comfortable. It was the temperature that made you want to sit on a porch and drink raspberry iced tea and talk with friends.
Although she didn’t want to admit it, she was beginning to miss home. She loved traveling all over the world, and was looking forward to the next adventure, but so much had happened while she was away.
Gareth’s mention of his brother’s wedding reminded Brooke of how many weddings she’d missed. No one bothered asking her to be a bridesmaid, as they all assumed she wouldn’t be around. They were right. That didn’t mean she didn’t hate missing out, or being asked.
For the first time she hadn’t planned her next job. What had caused her to delay? Maybe she needed to take a year off and regroup. Normally she only took a month between jobs and got all her visiting in then. An entire year might be too much. Not only would her parents get sick of her, but so would her friends. Three months might be her max. It’d also provide time to job hunt, since she’d been dragging her feet on doing that while in Tabiq.
She could blame the spotty internet service, but that would be a lie. The Hendersons were able to set this place up better than many big cities in the States. When she had asked about it, they said staying connected to loved ones was very important to them. That was good, because it seemed to benefit everyone in Tabiq too.
New Hope not only was a place for tourists to come and relax, but adjacent to it was a sports bar that was very popular with the locals. She’d gone in a few times, but it didn’t matter what channel they had on, nothing held her interest. She remembered there were race cars going around and around and she asked one of the men what the score was. Brooke practically got thrown out of the room. That place was too . . . serious for her.
Another wave broke, this time higher, hitting her knees. She was daydreaming and hadn’t noticed she was stepping into deeper water. It was so refreshing, and the feel of the salty breeze made her close her eyes again. If she wasn’t standing, she might actually fall asleep. It was so . . . peaceful.
Since she worked the morning shift, she didn’t normally have this opportunity. Off in a distance, Brooke could hear the cries of the seagulls as they searched for breakfast. Her own stomach growled, empty and wishing for something tasty. If she was lucky, they’d have a breakfast buffet set up outside when she returned. Normally it was in the main dining room, but that wasn’t going to happen today.
It made sense now why Alex gave her a few days off. With one dining room down, they were overstaffed. Brooke would’ve been happy to alternate with someone else or float to another spot so someone else who might need or enjoy the time off could have it. Yet she wasn’t in the position of making decisions. That’s how she chose her jobs. You showed up, did your job, and then left without any stress.
But this past week had been stressful. It was like she had been on alert the entire time waiting for Gareth to pop up. He always knew how to find her, which was unnerving. But whenever she went looking for him, he was nowhere to be found.
She hadn’t brought her cell phone with her, otherwise she’d try reaching out to him this morning. Most likely he was working with Alex again in the kitchen, and she really shouldn’t disturb him there.
Maybe that’s why I got the time off. So I won’t bother the workers.
There was really
only one she cared to see. And Gareth seemed to have enjoyed the dinner she’d prepared for him. Since she’d eaten the same thing, she knew she hadn’t poisoned him. That was good. But she still wished she would’ve heard from him.
When did I get so damn needy? It was out of character. Miss independent didn’t wait for the phone to ring. Half the time she would let it go to voicemail intentionally so the calls could be kept brief. And here she was hoping to hear from Gareth, and . . . nothing. The timing was off. She finally had all the time she needed to spend with him, and he was preoccupied with work.
Ironic. Was the universe laughing and toying with her? Getting her all interested, hot and bothered, then ending it before it could start? Maybe the cool breeze was what she needed to cool her desire for him. Yet the harder she tried not to think of him, the more she did. Even in this perfect setting, the one thing she’d change would be to spend time with him.
This is ridiculous. She wasn’t a child. If she wanted to see him, she’d make it happen. The days of waiting for some man to call you or ask you out were over. Besides, he seemed very interested. It was a shame she’d already worn that sexy black dress for him. It would’ve been perfect to get his attention again.
Brooke turned and headed up the beach. It was time to take matters in her own hands. She was about halfway when she heard her name being called.
Turning back to the ocean, she saw one sexy Gareth rising from the water, carrying a snorkel in one hand and fins in the other. Guess you’re not working today. She looked up to the sky and said, Thank you.
She waited for him to join her. When he did, she bit her bottom lip, as the water droplets dripped from his hair and ran down his chest. He definitely didn’t have the body of someone who sat at a desk all day. Seeing him working last night seemed to have fit him better. With her eyes hidden behind the dark sunglasses, she soaked in all that perfection. Gareth’s body glistened in the sun like some Greek god.
Maybe a male model instead.
A twinge of jealousy rose and she crossed that off the list. Although she was enjoying the view, she didn’t want to share it with the rest of the world.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said.
“And I thought you’d be sleeping late. Alex told me he gave you some time off.”
She shouldn’t be surprised she was the last one to know. “I’m not one who likes to spend the day in bed. Such a waste of a beautiful day. You never know what you’ll miss when you’re sleeping it away.” And look at the lovely sight I get to see.
“I’m glad to hear that. Because I was hoping I could make up for my no-show last night.”
“Gareth, it wasn’t like you forgot. You were busting your butt helping out. I’m sure Alex appreciated everything you did for him.” At least she hoped so.
“He did, but he doesn’t require my assistance this morning. Vinny and the others will handle the rest. Which leaves me totally free for the next two days.”
Your last two days here. It saddened her to think he was going so soon. “How do you plan on spending your time?” He stepped so close that the brim of her hat hit his chest. She reached up and pulled it off, but then the droplets from his hair landed on her T-shirt.
Gareth said in a husky voice, “With you. What do you say about a little excursion with me?”
“To where?”
“There is an inn on Tabiq that has a room available. Granted you can’t walk the beach, but from the cliff you have a perfect view of the ocean.”
“Gareth, you know we can’t leave New Hope. I’ll be fired for sure. Besides, we don’t know if it is safe,” Brooke exclaimed. She wanted to be with him, but not at the risk of their lives.
Gareth placed a finger under her chin and tipped her head up to meet his gaze. “It is safe. What do you say? Want to get out of here for a couple days?”
With you, yes. “It sounds good.” A shiver of excitement ran through her.
Gareth looked around and said, “I’d offer you my towel, but it seems to have gone MIA.”
She giggled. And that’s what I get for working when I shouldn’t.
“But maybe this will keep you warm for now.” Gareth pulled her in shis arms and as one, their lips claimed each other’s. Hunger built within her instantly. Gareth traced her lips with his tongue, and she opened to him. His body was still cool from the water, but as their kisses grew, she felt him warming to the touch. Gareth lifted her up in his arms, her feet dangling toward the sand. She dropped her hat and sandals and wrapped her arms around his neck. She couldn’t get enough of him. She wanted it all.
A big gust of wind caused the sand to kick up, and she remembered they weren’t behind closed doors. Painfully she felt him loosen his grip on her waist and slowly settle her back to the ground. Their lips were the last to part.
Panting, she said, “That . . . definitely . . . worked. If you . . . hadn’t stop . . . I might have . . . overheated.”
Gareth smiled down to her, “Then I suggest we go pack. I have a remedy for that problem.”
I’m sure you do. Her heart was pounding and her mind was telling her this was foolish. All they were ever going to have was this one week. The clock was ticking with only two days left. Was she out to break her own heart? It sure would’ve been easier if Gareth had been working on the pipes today, but definitely not as much fun.
Okay heart. Get ready for your high and then prepare for the crash.
This was promising. Brooke seemed thrilled with the idea of a little getaway. And damn, that woman was passionate. Gareth couldn’t wait to get her into bed, but he didn’t want her to think that was all he was interested in. She was so much more than that. So he made sure the inn had a private candlelight dinner for two ready on the balcony where they could sit and talk.
He wanted to get to know her better. Although he actually knew more about her than any woman he’d dated. That was sad to admit, even to himself. Was he really so shallow that he never cared before what type of music they liked or what their favorite movie was? But those women didn’t seem to mind. As long as they were wined and dined and well taken care of, they were happy. They were . . . relationships of convenience. Never thought about tomorrow, because most likely they weren’t going to see each other again.
That was not how he thought of Brooke. He was looking forward to waking up to her in his arms. Crazy thoughts, coming from him. He hadn’t slept with her yet, and he already didn’t want to let her go. As they approached the inn, he began to wonder if it was a good idea. If he was feeling like this, he could only imagine what Brooke must be thinking. Gareth didn’t want her to get the wrong impression. He wasn’t looking for anything permanent. Yet he knew he wanted something with more sustenance, but he wasn’t sure what that was exactly.
“You seem like you’re a million miles away,” Brooke said. “Are you worried about leaving New Hope and something going wrong?”
Hardly. “They have managed this long without me. I’m sure I’m not needed now.” But it had felt good to be needed. Getting his hands dirty, back on the job like the old days, had felt right. “I guess I missed it.”
“Missed what?” she asked.
“When I was in college, I took a summer off. I wanted to work on one of the construction sites as a laborer.”
“You did? Why?”
“To get a better understanding of what they are faced with when installing the steel we manufacture. It was eye-opening.”
“In what way?”
“Just about every way you can imagine. Right down to how we stack the beams, to what safety equipment we send along with them. I have to admit, part of me misses the physical hands-on part. A desk job was never for me.”
“Then why do you do it?”
He laughed. “Because Lawson Steel has been around since 1808. It’s a family-owned business, and it’s my generation’s turn to run it.” There was a time when he would’ve said proud family, now he wasn’t quite so proud. At least not about the past.
“I thought you had a bunch of brothers. Aren’t they able to run it without you so you can do what you want to do?”
That seemed like such a simple question. One he’d thought about many times. He had tried not being heavily involved with what was going on at the office. All that did was make Charles drag him in harder. He’d never really had a conversation with any of them about leaving.
“You think it’s that easy, do you? You haven’t met my brothers. They aren’t as easy-going as I am.”
“Oh God help the world,” she teased.
“Hey. What’s that supposed to mean?”
With a soft giggle she replied, “I hadn’t realized you were easy-going.”
“For the record, I’m not. I’m an arrogant ass. On a scale of one to ten, I’m off the charts. I can make a person squirm with just one look. And—”
Brooke burst out laughing. “You had me squirming with just one kiss. But one look? Please, you’re not scary at all.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. Most people don’t.” He was worried she was going to call him a big teddy bear next. What were those sunglasses blocking out? Or did she choose to see what she wanted? Granted, he could be easy-going when he wanted to be, but in the world he lived in, if he was as soft as she made it sound, he’d have been walked all over. Even by his brothers.
“I guess you let me see a side that you keep from everyone else,” she said.
That scared him more than being compared to a teddy bear. Mostly because she was right. He was different with her. But everything about Tabiq made things feel . . . different. That was something he needed to remind her.
“It’s like being in another world over here. Nothing feels like it does back home.”
Brooke nodded. “I know what you mean. You would think with everything these people have been through, they’d be full of hate and bitterness. Instead, they are overflowing with hope. Maybe that’s what makes it seem different. Hope for a better tomorrow is contagious.”
The Billionaire's Scandal (The Blank Check Series Book 3) Page 10
